Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-26

of year. roses sell at never more than %
cents per GOO. and $500 worth were used. A
velvet carpet was spread from the street TO
the church door, and the appearance Of the
bridal party was hailed by a deafening
crash of music from the great organ and
two brass bands-the latter hidden behind
an extemporized grove of palms.
The bride was attired in the convent onal
white satin, garnished with beaded lace.
with train four yards long, and low-necked
bodice covered with orange blossoms.
Over this, falling to her feet in front and
reaching the hem of her long train, was a
superb veil of point dAlencon lace, which
alone must have cost fortune. Magnifi-
cent diamonds cleaned in her dark hair,
encircled her throat, and shone upon her
round bare arms: and in her ungloved
hand she carried a pearl-bound prayer
book instead of the customary bouquet
AS the party entered the cathedral door,
amid the rolling of the organ, the blare of
trumpets and the hubbub of drums, 8
priest, clad entirely in white gestments,
advanced down the aisle 10 meet them.
He was followed by two black-gowned
subordinates, carrying the various articles
to be used in the ceremony; and the pro-
cession was brought up by train OF small
boys, in red shirts and lace-bordered over
dresses, bringing q long pole topped with a
golden crucitix.
With her father on one side and her
mother on the other (the latter dressed in
black lace) the bride entered a pew near
the door and remained there while the
priest propounded several questions. These
having been satisfactorily answered, the
bride stepped forth, leaving her parents be-
hind, and being Joined by the groom, fol-
lowed the priest to the high-altar, acc I'M
panied by all the procession. The bride
maids four in number, were rather queeily
dressed, exactly alike. in dark green velvet,
with black-lace mantillas and profuse gar
niture of white roses.
Then the white-robed priest put on his
spectacles and read and read, till every
bodys patience was well nigh exhausted !;
after which he addressed the bride a series
of question, to ell of which she replied
Isl. sIaNoR."
Then he questioned the groom in the
same manner, and his deeper voice re-
sponded awith equal promptness. Then
one of the black-skirted attendants pre-
sented silver salver upon which spar
killed. a diamond ring of extraordinary
brilliancy. This the priest handed to the
groom, who placed it on the little finger of
the brides left hand. Then the priest put
a similar ring on third finger of the right
hand of the groom, and plain gold ring
on the third finger of the brides right
hand Then, folding the two ringed hands
together, he sprinkled them with holy
water and crossed them repeatedly.
And now the ceremony was but fairly
began, for an interminable mass must be
gone through with, accompanied by iustru-
mental music, the chanting Of priests and
acolytes, and many prayers and responses.
This ended, the priest sprinkled the we'd
ded pair anew, and threw over their shout
ders a heavy rope Of white silk, firmly
kotted together. symbolizing hymenial
bondage. Then he took from the plate
seventeen gold dollars (which the groom
had placed there) and emptied them into
the husbands hands. The latter emptied
them into the hands OF his wife and she in
turn gave them to the priest as gift of the
church, in token that of their bounty they
would sustain and protect the ordinances
of religion.
When all was at last concluded, the ex-
hausted pair retired to the sacristy to re-
ceiye the congratulations of friends now
crowded around them, after which they left
the church in separate carriages-the hus-
band Fastening on ahead to welcome his
wife at the home he had prepared for her.
The wedding festivities are often kept up
for week, in continual round of feast
ing and dancing. After that is over the
husband claims his wife-and right jeal-
ously does be guard her, the doors of the
casa being henceforth shut against all man.
kind but himself. He may continue to ffirt
like veritable Don Juan, but the future
life of the welded Juliet is spent in strict
seclusion-eating drinking, sleeping, smok-
ing and as the acquaintance of the mar
ried strangers progresses it is not improb
able that the conjugal atmosphere is cooled
by occasional breezy disagreements. Romeo
is desperately jealous, and his wife might
as well be nun, so far as society is con-
cerned. Indeed, according to Northern
ways of thinking, the life of Mexican
married lady is 50 insufferably tame as to
be hardly worth living-unless she be very,
very much in love with her husband; and
the heroine of Verona was not unwise
when she retired prematurely to the tomb
of the Capulets FANNIE b. WARD